Best and Worst Major Interchange Stations

[lxfe_mxtterz]

Not actually an interchange station - but a lot of people make the connection between Birmingham Moor Street and Birmingham New Street (and a lot will make the connection between Birmingham Curzon Street once it's complete)

Your options are either a fairly ok walk through the bullring shopping centre when it is open, or otherwise you've got to walk through a fairly dingy tunnel with poor lighting, very dirty and lots of vagrants. Always puts me off making the connection early in the morning or late at night.

Council promised to redo the tunnel after the New Street redevelopments, it never happened though.

When I made that connection, I did the third option of walking up the stairs adjacent to the tunnel and then walking across the shopping square with the bull statue and back down to New Street station.

Pleasant enough, and avoids that very nasty tunnel.

 

[Davester50]

Haymarket. Platform 3 to Platform 2

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Birmingham NS gets my vote for worst.
Preston is good but that is because I know it like the back of my hand.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Haymarket. Platform 3 to Platform 2

As an example of a "best" (easiest) cross-platform interchange, presumably?

The nearby Edinburgh (Waverley) can be a bit awkward if changing from a train that has terminated at say platform 13, to one that is leaving from platform 8 or 9.

 

[Davester50]

As an example of a "best" (easiest) cross-platform interchange, presumably?

Absolutely. Northbound it's fantastically easy. Southbound, with reasonable time, I'd continue to Edinburgh.

The nearby Edinburgh (Waverley) can be a bit awkward if changing from a train that has terminated at say platform 13, to one that is leaving from platform 8 or 9.

Which can be a pain.

 

[PeterY]

Birmingham New Street. If there were to be a poll, New Street would win outright

 

[steamybrian]

I also give my vote to Birmingham New Street as the worst interchange. Got lost trying to change platforms from a train arrived from Euston to a departure for Shrewsbury.
Second worst I found was Gatwick Airport although it is now in the process of rebuilding. One footbridge was exit only with escalators in one direction and the other footbridge did not state you could access all the other platforms.
The first time I used Edinburgh Waverley was confusing finding platform 1 next to platform 20 but it took me a while to figure out the layout but could be confusing for first timers.

 

[py_megapixel]

I also agree that the worst is New Street, followed closely by Manchester Piccadilly if you have to use the through platforms. Both feel too airport-y for my liking, especially with the "WAIT IN LOUNGE" and "GO TO PLATFORM" instructions that have been on the screens at Picc for a while.

The rest of Manchester Piccadilly is OK but I have a bit of an irritation with it - why does the footbridge have lifts to only a small selection of platforms? (If you don't have large amounts of luggage, or do happen to be changing between platforms with lifts, the footbridge is very handy though, and usually not too busy given everyone seems to gravitate to the gateline rather than the bridge).

 

[yorksrob]

Don't find Leeds all that easy a station to interchange at, particularly if your onward train is from platform 16.

You obviously haven't experienced a run to 17a then 16 is Shang-ri-la in comparison.

 

[DB]

You obviously haven't experienced a run to 17a then 16 is Shang-ri-la in comparison.

From 7, or 0!

 

[Llandudno]

Dovey Junction…

One of the best in summer and one of the worst in winter…!

Ok, not a major interchange I suppose!

 

[Old Yard Dog]

I agree with others about Birmingham New Street although there are some decent real ale pubs nearby like the Post Office Vaults.

More locally Ellesmere Port and Helsby are terrible places to change. No thought is put into connections, they are not guaranteed and facilities are non-existent.

And I'm not fond of Crewe either.

 

[Grumpy Git]

I agree with others about Birmingham New Street although there are some decent real ale pubs nearby like the Post Office Vaults.

More locally Ellesmere Port and Helsby are terrible places to change. No thought is put into connections, they are not guaranteed and facilities are non-existent.

And I'm not fond of Crewe either.

Crewe suffers for one because it looks like it's seen no love since Adam was a lad.

The facilities later into the evening are always closed too (when I've come off a Manchester bound Avanti and am waiting for a LNW 350 to Lime St.)

 

[43096]

Another vote for New Street. It’s an utter hell hole of a station. Frankly the best option would be to nuke the area and start again.

 

[Dr Hoo]

I realise that having been brought upon Birmingham and having commuted through New Street for quite a few years (and knowing the station through its 'original' to 1960s rebuild and the more recent rebuild) I am never going to have the 'detachment' to see it for the first time as it were. Nevertheless I simply don't understand why people seem to struggle with it so much.

The whole 'double-barrier' thing to me is greatly overdone. There are many other places where it is necessary - most London termini to/from the Underground most obviously but also within other stations such as Glasgow Central, Edinburgh Waverley and Liverpool Lime Street. There are other stations such as Shrewsbury and Cardiff Central where it is sometimes necessary to 'go outside' for interchange. The good thing about New Street is that it isn't necessary to use any barrier whilst interchanging if you follow advice, signage and announcements!

It is not widely commented on that the most recent re-build took the number of barrier lines from one (which used to be terribly congested much of the time) to no fewer than six! For the majority of passengers who aren't interchanging but simply exiting to or entering from, y'know, Birmingham there is always the choice of four barrier lines and thus no individual line is especially busy. This has the effect of greatly reducing footfall along the interchange 'bridge' at the 'B' end.

The much-derided 'lounges' enable a significant number of waiting passengers to remain out of the way and not milling around or clogging up either platforms, the concourse or interchange pathways.

The recommended minimum interchange time advertised at New Street is 12 minutes. This is entirely adequate in my view if you are reasonably able-bodied. As a former station manager I know that it is never a good idea to dash around any station. (I've seen three people drop dead with heart attacks whilst trying.)

The new layout has also greatly facilitated interchange with both the tram and Moor Street insofar as matters within the control of the rail industry are concerned.

(The most confusing major interchange in Great Britain is Edinburgh Waverley in my view. The tram connection is also the worst anywhere.)

 

[yorksrob]

I realise that having been brought upon Birmingham and having commuted through New Street for quite a few years (and knowing the station through its 'original' to 1960s rebuild and the more recent rebuild) I am never going to have the 'detachment' to see it for the first time as it were. Nevertheless I simply don't understand why people seem to struggle with it so much.

The whole 'double-barrier' thing to me is greatly overdone. There are many other places where it is necessary - most London termini to/from the Underground most obviously but also within other stations such as Glasgow Central, Edinburgh Waverley and Liverpool Lime Street. There are other stations such as Shrewsbury and Cardiff Central where it is sometimes necessary to 'go outside' for interchange. The good thing about New Street is that it isn't necessary to use any barrier whilst interchanging if you follow advice, signage and announcements!

It is not widely commented on that the most recent re-build took the number of barrier lines from one (which used to be terribly congested much of the time) to no fewer than six! For the majority of passengers who aren't interchanging but simply exiting to or entering from, y'know, Birmingham there is always the choice of four barrier lines and thus no individual line is especially busy. This has the effect of greatly reducing footfall along the interchange 'bridge' at the 'B' end.

The much-derided 'lounges' enable a significant number of waiting passengers to remain out of the way and not milling around or clogging up either platforms, the concourse or interchange pathways.

The recommended minimum interchange time advertised at New Street is 12 minutes. This is entirely adequate in my view if you are reasonably able-bodied. As a former station manager I know that it is never a good idea to dash around any station. (I've seen three people drop dead with heart attacks whilst trying.)

The new layout has also greatly facilitated interchange with both the tram and Moor Street insofar as matters within the control of the rail industry are concerned.

(The most confusing major interchange in Great Britain is Edinburgh Waverley in my view. The tram connection is also the worst anywhere.)

So, you have to go through two sets of barriers to get from one platform to another, the platforms are still a fume cupboard and there's no longer a station bar.

Cosmic.9

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Not as busy with interchanges as some mentioned, but Mirfield isn't great in poor weather if changing from the island to platform 3. Windswept and unstaffed.

Edit: missed the bit about minimum 4 platforms, apologies.

 

[Timmyd]

Clapham Junction and East Croydon are my most used and both very good. As others have noted upthread, having footbridges/subways at both ends makes a big difference, and the Brighton Yard booking hall at CLJ has helped shift more passengers to the wide footbridge rather than the narrow subway. Both also have plenty of shelter and places to get a coffee either on the footbridge or platforms or both.

By contrast Wimbledon seems to have a lot of pinch points, and Stratford is just plain confusing unless you really know your way round.

 

[Dr Hoo]

I wrote:

The good thing about New Street is that it isn't necessary to use any barrier whilst interchanging if you follow advice, signage and announcements!

But the response is:

So, you have to go through two sets of barriers to get from one platform to another, the platforms are still a fume cupboard and there's no longer a station bar.

?

Meanwhile, the new 'lounge' arrangements are intended to avoid the need for passengers to wait for any length of time at platform level.

And, as others note

I agree with others about Birmingham New Street although there are some decent real ale pubs nearby like the Post Office Vaults.

...in any event there is an All Bar One at the station. (I know that that isn't everyone's favourite.) It is helpfully called 'All Bar One New Street Station'! (A bit of a clue in the name if you're not very familiar with Birmingham.)

 

[yorksrob]

I wrote:


But the response is:


?

Meanwhile, the new 'lounge' arrangements are intended to avoid the need for passengers to wait for any length of time at platform level.

And, as others note

...in any event there is an All Bar One at the station. (I know that that isn't everyone's favourite.) It is helpfully called 'All Bar One New Street Station'! (A bit of a clue in the name if you're not very familiar with Birmingham.)

Well, I had to go through two sets of barriers in the new New Street - something I never had to do in the old one.

 

[coppercapped]

The rebuilt Reading isn't bad at all. The general lightness and airiness are great. My only complaints are that there is nowhere to sit on the concourse bridge whilst you are waiting for your train to go up on the screen. Of course there is Real Time Trains, but there are occasional last minute changes. Oh, and the toilets are tucked away on Platform 7.

Eh? Walking around with dark glasses on were you?

Apart from those on platform 7, there are toilets on each of the islands, see the Network Rail station map at https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Reading-Station-Map.pdf

...and there are benches on the bridge, although admittedly not in direct sight of the train information displays but you can see the displays at the top of the stairs and escalators to the platforms near you.

In any event, what platform changes were you considering? All high speed trains to London go from either 10 or 11 which are the two sides of the same island - so that's not an issue. West bound fast trains for the Didcot direction leave from 8 or 9 - again either side of the same island. Berks and Hants expresses leave, generally, from 7 and occasionally from 8 so there might be an issue there. The only services which can be confusing are the Cross-Country services which reverse in 3, 7, 8 or any of the high number platforms 12 to 15, although even this is simplified to an extent since the Crossrail trains generally reverse in 14 which puts it out of bounds for Cross Country.

Everyone to his taste!

 

[yorksrob]

The old Reading General was lovely (if busy). One of the few things I have affection for from my (mercifully) short time living in the place.

 

[Mikey C]

Another vote for New Street

Stratford is grim too (and yes it's a cheat because it's not just National Rail services!) as the number of people overwhelms the passageways AND you have the random platform numbering too

Preston seems a pretty decent place to change trains, not least because it's vary spacious for the number of people using it

 

[ClagLover]

Not a huge fan of changing at Leeds or Clapham Junction.

 

[Meole]

York is difficult, temptation to delay -

 

[ClagLover]

York is difficult, temptation to delay -

Indeed

 

[xotGD]

From personal experience, Derby and Sheffield good.

New St and Leeds bad.

At New St I use the bridge that nobody else uses to change platforms. A bit of a trek, but at least I know that I won't end up with ticket barriers in the way.

At Leeds my daily commute used to be between the bays and 17B. Good for your fitness, if nothing else.

 

[Wtloild]

Best: Preston, particularly since they've added a couple more refreshment options on the platforms, would've said Newcastle if it weren't for its unintuitive (to me at least) platform numbering.
Worst: Birmingham New Street for design, Manchester Oxford Rd for overcrowding.

 

[ClagLover]

Best: Preston, particularly since they've added a couple more refreshment options on the platforms, would've said Newcastle if it weren't for its unintuitive (to me at least) platform numbering.
Worst: Birmingham New Street for design, Manchester Oxford Rd for overcrowding.

I do enjoy Preston. Really easy to navigate around and if you’re waiting around for a while there’s usually something interesting to see. It’s my (almost) local station so I do hold a soft spot for it.

 

[DerekC]

Eh? Walking around with dark glasses on were you?

Apart from those on platform 7, there are toilets on each of the islands, see the Network Rail station map at https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Reading-Station-Map.pdf

...and there are benches on the bridge, although admittedly not in direct sight of the train information displays but you can see the displays at the top of the stairs and escalators to the platforms near you.

In any event, what platform changes were you considering? All high speed trains to London go from either 10 or 11 which are the two sides of the same island - so that's not an issue. West bound fast trains for the Didcot direction leave from 8 or 9 - again either side of the same island. Berks and Hants expresses leave, generally, from 7 and occasionally from 8 so there might be an issue there. The only services which can be confusing are the Cross-Country services which reverse in 3, 7, 8 or any of the high number platforms 12 to 15, although even this is simplified to an extent since the Crossrail trains generally reverse in 14 which puts it out of bounds for Cross Country.

Everyone to his taste!

Point taken about the toilets - I will look for them on the island next time. Otherwise I was actually being nice about Reading so maybe time to put your reading glasses on!